Great Overall Career Arc -- Group/Solo


I'm interested in opinions on great artist who started out in a great band(s) and then went on to have equally great or better solo careers. The starting band can be relatively short-lived (at least 2 albums), but the solo career should be long-lived, or vice versa.

An obvious example would be John Lennon, but after thinking about it I don't think he qualifies. Is his solo work really as good or better than his original group work? I think the same applies to Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, George Clinton or Sting.

I'm thinking more along the lines of Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield), Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music), Gram Parsons (Byrds & Flying Burrito Bros.), Jeff Beck (Yardbirds), Micheal Jackson (Jackson 5), Dave Alvin (Blasters) or even Robin Trower (Procol Harum).

Who would you include on this list?
128x128onhwy61

Showing 3 responses by viridian

Point taken, re Hendrix, you are correct.

Most that go out on a solo career end up as soppy, MOR artists cranking out ever more boring and derivative records, vide Natalie Merchant, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Aimee Mann and, most of all, Sting.
Bdgregory, the question regarded "great artists", which is, of course, completely subjective. So I might disqualify Clapton and Sting, based on a belief that they are not great artists, and yet they might be at the top of the next guy's, or gal's, list. That's what makes horse racin'.